Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02522640 2005-10-06
GAMING DEVICE GIVES PLAYER AWARD WHEN JACKPOT
MEETS A TRIGGER THRESHOLD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to gaming devices and, in particular, to a progressive
jackpot technique for a gaming device.
BACKGROUND
Gaming machines are sometimes referred to as slot machines. In a typical
progressive jackpot gaming machine, a progressive jackpot is accumulated by
allocating a percentage of every wager to the jackpot. In a typical example,
the
jackpot is won by video or mechanical reels displaying a special combination
of
symbols. Typically, a number of gaming machines are linked and share the same
jackpot, so the jackpot usually becomes very large.
Since the winning of the jackpot is very infrequent, the players are not
particularly motivated to keep playing the machines.
What is needed is a gaming device that gives the player added incentive to
keep playing the device.
SUMMARY
A group of linked gaming machines generates one or more progressive
jackpots, common to all the linked machines, where the amount of each jackpot
is
increased by a percentage of the wagers made by the players. A progressive
jackpot
is awarded to a player when a special outcome of the player's machine occurs.
Such a
special outcome is typically a special combination of symbols across one or
more
activated paylines. If there are multiple jackpots, each jackpot may be
associated with
a different winning outcome. The awarding of the jackpots is typically
infrequent in
order to keep the amounts of the jackpots relatively high.
In accordance with the invention, in order to provide incentive for the player
to keep playing the machines, non jackpot awards are paid out to players of
the linked
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gaming machines based on triggering thresholds met by each jackpot. One type
of
triggering threshold may be a threshold value reached by a jackpot. Upon a
jackpot
reaching the threshold, one or more players will win an award. After an award
win,
another threshold level will then be set for the j ackpot. The awards are less
than the
full jackpot amounts so may be granted more frequently than the jackpots.
As the jackpots increase, the players will realize that it is becoming more
and
more likely that an award will be granted to one or more of the players due to
the
jackpots exceeding their trigger threshold values. Hence, the players will
continue to
play the machines.
In other embodiments, the sub-jackpot awards are based on trigger events
other than a threshold value.
Additionally, the winning of awards based on the jackpots acts as an
additional game, adding further excitement. The players will pay attention to
the
jackpot meters to anticipate when a next trigger or level is reached. When an
award is
won, the win may be celebrated by sounds, lights, and graphics on an overhead
display and on the winning machine, informing all players of the linked
machines that
the award for the current level has been won by a player. Such an audio and
visual
display will entice additional players to play the linked machines.
Various embodiments of this general concept are described to heighten the
level of excitement and anticipation by the players. The granting of awards
based
upon triggering thresholds met by the jackpots essentially creates an
additional game
that is continually played as the players play the main game on the gaming
devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 illustrates linked gaming machines where a percentage of the wagers are
allocated to one or more jackpot amounts displayed on a jackpot meter.
Fig. 2 is a flowchart of one embodiment of the inventive technique.
Figs. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate a game that is played by a player once it is
determined that the player is to win an award due to a jackpot meeting a
certain
threshold.
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Fig. 4 illustrates certain functional units in each of the gaming devices of
Fig.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Fig. 1 illustrates a linked gaming machine system 10 comprising a plurality of
gaming machines 12 that communicate with each other or with a central server
using
a communications link 13. A central server is not needed if one of the
machines 12
acts as a master controller. A communications link is needed so that a
percentage of
the bets made on each of the gaming machines is allocated to one or more
jackpots
common to all the linked gaming machines 12.
Each machine 12 has a main display 14. This display 14 may be a video
screen displaying the rotation and stopping of virtual reels, or display 14
may be
windows revealing physical motor-driven reels. In such games, awards are based
on
the combinations of symbols across activated paylines.
Control buttons 16 are provided so that the player may make selections such
as placing a bet, placing a maximum bet, spin reels, cash out, and any other
function.
Buttons 16 may be replaced by or augmented with touch screen virtual buttons
on
display 14.
A coin tray 18 receives coins or tokens upon a win or upon the player cashing
out. Payouts may also be made by printing tickets, electronically altering a
card,
electronically altering a central memory, or other known means.
Various means for receiving money or monetary equivalents may be
incorporated in machines 12, such as coin and bill slots, card readers, and
printed
ticket readers.
An upper display portion 19 includes progressive jackpot meters 20 and 22.
Each jackpot amount is displayed by an associated meter. Meters 20 and 22 may
be
any type of display, such as a seven-segment LED display, an LCD, etc. In one
embodiment, upper display 19 is an active display, such as an LCD or CRT, and
meters 20 and 22 are video windows displaying the jackpot amounts. Instead of
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meters 20 and 22 on each machine, a large common display may be provided to
advertise the jackpot amounts to all the players.
Upper display portion 19 or any other meter on machines 12 identifies the
number of accumulated credits.
The number of progressive jackpots may range from one to any number.
Typically, each jackpot is won by an associated special outcome of the main
game
played on display 14. Between the times that the jackpots are awarded, the
players
win regular awards during the main game by obtaining, for example, winning
symbol
combinations across paylines.
Typically, the larger jackpots are won by an outcome that occurs less
frequently than the outcomes for winning the smaller jackpots. By providing a
variety
of jackpots, there is a higher likelihood that any player may win one of the
jackpots,
and this maintains a higher level of excitement by the players. The present
invention,
described below, is also applicable to a single progressive jackpot.
A processor in a central server or in a master controller machine detects the
wagers made in the various linked machines and allocates predetermined
percentages
of the wagers to the various jackpots so that the jackpots continually
increase until
they are won by a player. The jackpot pool then starts again from an initial
amount.
Hidden pools may also be accumulated from a percentage of the wagers for
starting a visible jackpot at a non-zero amount or for funding the sub-jackpot
awards
discussed below. Alternatively, the sub-jackpot awards may be funded by the
visible
jackpots themselves, and thus the appropriate visible jackpot would be
diminished if a
sub jackpot award were funded by the visible jackpot. The concepts described
herein
can be applied to both situations.
A master controller or a central processor external to all the linked machines
may control the awarding of a jackpot by designating one of the machines at a
certain
time to generate a jackpot-winning outcome, such as a special combination of
symbols. In this way, administering of the jackpot may be better controlled.
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In addition to a player winning regular awards during the main game and
winning conventional jackpots by obtaining special symbol combinations,
another
method for providing awards for the player is provided by system 10. In one
embodiment, as a jackpot increases in value, it exceeds a certain threshold,
which may
be randomly determined by system 10 or determined based on other criteria.
When it
is detected that a jackpot has exceeded this certain threshold, an award,
which is less
than the entire jackpot, is granted to one or more of the players. These sub-
jackpot
awards are typically granted at a frequency higher than the frequency of
granting the
full jackpots, and the increased frequency of winning generates additional
excitement
in the player. The sub-jackpot award may be funded by one or more hidden pools
or
by the visible jackpot(s).
In one embodiment, a player is eligible for winning a sub-jackpot award
simply by playing a participating machine. In other embodiments, the player is
only
eligible for winning a sub-jackpot award if certain criteria are met. Examples
of such
criteria are: 1) the player is eligible only if the player is eligible to win
the jackpot
itself (e.g., some games require the player to make a max bet to qualify for
the
jackpot); or 2) the player is only eligible if she plays the max lines, or the
max bet, or
bets extra credits to qualify.
An award may be granted when the jackpot reaches certain known fixed
threshold values. The award may be a fixed known amount for each threshold
value.
For example, the player gets a 1 credit award for the jackpot exceeding the
threshold
of 100; 10 credits for a threshold of 1000; 100 credits for a threshold of
10,000; etc.
The award may be 10% of the threshold or another value. In another example,
the
threshold values are special numbers such as 33, 333, 555, 7777, etc. Certain
countries treat certain numbers as special, and those numbers may be included
as the
threshold values. Reaching these thresholds may result in fixed awards like
10, 100,
1000, or a fixed percentage (e.g., 10%) of the threshold. In another
embodiment, an
award is granted for every 100th (e.g., 100, 200, etc.) or 1000th jackpot
unit, or other
milestone.
An award may be granted when the jackpot reaches a value unknown to the
players, such as a random number selected by a pseudo-random number generator.
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Any combination of the above award thresholds may be used.
The trigger threshold met by the j ackpot may be other than exceeding a
threshold value.
The sub-jackpot award itself may be variable and unknown to the players. In
one example, the award is randomly determined, but within a range whose
maximum
is no greater than the jackpot. In another example, a variety of possible
awards are
predefined or drawn from a set of possible awards, and those possible awards
are
displayed to all the players well prior to the award being granted. In another
example,
the award to be paid to a player may be determined only after the player knows
she
has won an award. In that example, the award may be formed by a random
combination of the threshold value digits. For example, the threshold value
may by
5678, and the award may be selected based on a random combination of three of
the
digits (e.g., 687 credits). The award may even be based on the sum of all or a
subset
of the digits in the threshold value. In another example, the award is the
outcome of a
game, such as described below with reference to Fig. 3.
In another example, when a first threshold level is reached, a first award
digit
is stored for the winning player. When the second threshold is reached, a
second digit
is stored along with the first digit. When all or a predetermined number of
thresholds
have been reached, and corresponding digits have been stored, the player wins
an
award based on the stored digits. For example, the digits may be ordered
sequentially
or randomly to specify the award value. Such a technique keeps the player
playing
the machine.
The granting of awards based on the jackpot values keeps players playing the
linked machines. Additionally, the winning of awards based on the jackpots
acts as
an additional game, adding further excitement. The players will pay attention
to the
jackpot meters 20, 22 (Fig. 1) to anticipate when a next trigger will be
reached.
Hence, an added game and added excitement can be provided with no additional
bonus screens and without any time being used up by a bonus game. Such an
additional game based on the jackpot amount can be added to any linked gaming
system without changing the main game program for the linked machines since
the
additional game can be administered by a central processor or a master
processor (in
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one of the linked machines) used for accumulating the jackpot and hidden
pools,
controlling one of the linked machines to generate a winning jackpot outcome
at a
certain time, and granting the awards based on the jackpot thresholds.
When an award is won based on the jackpot level, the win may be celebrated
by sounds, lights, and graphics on an overhead display and on the winning
machine,
informing all players of the linked machines that the award for the current
level has
been won by a player. Such an audio and visual display will entice additional
players
to play the linked machines.
Fig. 2 is a flow chart that further explains the basic technique of granting a
sub-jackpot award based on a jackpot threshold value.
In step 1 of Fig. 2, the players make wagers and play the linked gaming
machines in a conventional manner. The game played may be the spinning of
actual
or virtual reels to obtain winning symbol combinations across paylines. The
main
game may be any other type of game. The players win regular awards based on
the
outcomes of the main game.
In step 2, a percentage of the wagers are allocated to one or more progressive
jackpots. The current values of the jackpots are displayed in meters 20 and 22
in Fig.
1. Hidden pools may also be accumulated by a percentage of the wagers.
In step 3, a trigger threshold for each jackpot is determined. This trigger
threshold may be a randomly selected value of the jackpot or may be a
predetermined
value (e.g., 100, 1,000, 10,000) as previously discussed. If the threshold is
a random
value, the random selection of a threshold value may occur in real-time as the
jackpot
is accumulating and need not be predetermined. Certain numbers may have a
special
meaning in a particular country or region. The trigger threshold may be the
jackpot
meter showing a special number such as 13, 21, 777, etc.
Alternatively, the trigger threshold met by the jackpot may be based on a time
from the last jackpot award, based on the activity of the gaming machines,
based on
the time of day, or based on any other factor. Each jackpot may have its own
trigger
threshold.
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As the wagers are made and the jackpots increase, the threshold determined in
step 3 will eventually be met by a jackpot.
In step 4, upon the threshold of a jackpot being met, one or more players will
win an award. This award may be a fixed award, a randomly determined award, or
an
award based upon other factors, as previously described. Typically, the award
will be
far less than the jackpot amount. The award may be paid from the jackpot, and
thus
get deducted from the jackpot, or the award may be paid separately from the
jackpot,
such as from a hidden pool.
The awards may be paid out by issuing credits to the player, which the player
may then convert to tokens, cash, a ticket, a card record, or other means by
cashing
out of the machine.
Steps 5A-5D are various alternative techniques to determine which players
win the award.
In step 5A, the award for a jackpot meeting the threshold is granted to all
the
active players of the machines 12. The award granted to the active players may
be a
predetermined award given to each of the players, or the award may be an
amount that
is divided by the number of players actively playing, or the award to each
player may
be based upon other criteria such as the amount of the last bet by a player,
or the
award may be based upon other criteria. For example, a player that has made a
maximum bet at the time the award is granted will receive a larger award than
a
player who has made a lower bet at the time of the award. An active gaming
machine
may be determined by detecting accumulated credits in the machine or a play
within a
certain period, such as within the last 15 seconds.
Alternatively, as shown in step 5B, the award is granted only to randomly
selected active gaming machines.
Alternatively, as shown in step 5C, the award is granted only to those players
who have bet the maximum bet in a current game or the previous game.
Alternatively, as shown in step 5D, the award is granted only to the single
player that caused the jackpot threshold to be exceeded by her wager.
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Alternatively, the award may be granted to the first player who has achieved a
winning outcome after the threshold has been reached. Other criteria have been
previously described, and other criteria for granting the award to the players
will be
understood by those skilled in the art.
After the award is granted, normal play resumes, and another trigger threshold
is determined as the jackpot reaches higher levels. The method of Fig. 2 may
apply to
each of the jackpots separately.
The granting of an award to one or more of the players in step 5 of Fig. 2 may
even entail an additional game. Figs. 3A-3C illustrate one type of game that
may be
played so that the award is based on the outcome of an additional game.
In Fig. 3A, it is assumed the jackpot meter 20 displays a progressive jackpot
value of 2935. It is assumed that in step 3 of Fig. 2, that this value of 2935
meets the
threshold criteria for awarding one or more of the players an award. The
selection of
the players to play the additional game may be based on any of the criteria in
step 5 of
Fig 2. In Fig. 3A, the processor in the gaming machine or a special jackpot
processor
randomly selects one of the numerals in the jackpot value of 2935. It is
understood
that, in the context of gaming machines, the word "random" applies to both
purely
random events and pseudo-random events. In the example shown, the computer has
selected numeral 5, which is in bold type. The player then selects a position
for this
selected numeral 5 in a personal award display 26 on the gaming machine 12. In
this
example, the player places the numeral 5 in the second one of three positions.
The
number of positions may be any number, such as two or more, and may depend
upon
the level of the jackpot.
In Fig. 3B, the computer has randomly selected the numeral 3, and the player
places the numeral 3 in the first position in the player's personal award
display 26,
wanting to assure that the award will be at least 352.
In Fig. 3C, the computer has randomly selected the numeral 2, which is placed
in the last position in the personal award display 26. This awards the player
352
credits (or dollars, etc.) In another embodiment, the computer randomly places
the
number selected from the jackpot meter 20 in the personal award display 26.
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Figs. 3A-3C illustrate only one type of additional game that may be played to
add further excitement in the granting of an award to a player based upon the
jackpots
meeting certain trigger thresholds.
In another embodiment, once a first threshold level is reached, a first
numeral
is selected and positioned, similar to that shown in Fig. 3A. Upon a second
threshold
level being reached, a second numeral from the jackpot meter is selected and
positioned. The process continues for various threshold levels. By the player
building an award over time, the player is motivated to keep playing the game
until
she receives the special award after the final threshold is achieved.
In another embodiment, the awards granted to a player upon the jackpots
meeting certain trigger thresholds may fill up personal jackpot pools that the
player
may win upon any other type of trigger event, such as the player obtaining
certain
symbol combinations or any other type of event.
Fig. 4 is a block diagram of one type of gaming machine 60 that may be linked
to other gaming machines and may include software to carry out the present
invention. The gaming machine 60 may use conventional hardware.
A communications board 62 may contain conventional circuitry for coupling
the gaming machine 60 to a local area network (LAN) or other type of network
using
Ethernet or any other protocol. The communications board 62 transmits using a
wireless transmitter, or it may be directly connected to a network running
throughout
the casino floor. The communications board 62 basically sets up a
communication
link with a master controller or server and buffers data between the network
and the
game controller board 64. The communications board 62 may also communicate
with
a network server for purposes other than to carry out the present invention.
The game controller board 64 contains memory and a processor for carrying
out programs stored in the memory and for providing the information requested
by the
network. The game controller board 64 primarily carries out the game routines.
If one
of the gaming machines acts like a master controller for the progressive
jackpot
invention, software in the memory controls the game controller board 64 or
another
processor to carry out the steps in Fig. 2.
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Peripheral devices/boards communicate with the game controller board 64 via
a bus 66 using, for example, an RS-232 interface. Such peripherals may include
a bill
validator 67, a coin detector 68, a smart card reader or other type of credit
card reader
69, and player control inputs 70 (such as buttons or a touch screen). An audio
board
71 converts coded signals into analog signals for driving speakers. A display
controller 72 converts coded signals to pixel signals for the display 73.
Display
controller 72 and audio board 71 may be directly connected to parallel ports
on the
game controller board 64.
The electronics on the various boards may be combined onto a single board.
Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will
appreciate
that, given the present disclosure, modifications may be made to the invention
without
departing from the spirit of the inventive concepts described herein.
Therefore, it is
not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific
embodiments
illustrated and described.
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